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Event Description

The Federal Trade Commission plans to host a public workshop on May 23, 2023, to examine “recyclable” advertising claims. The workshop is a component of the Commission’s recently announced regulatory review of the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (the “Green Guides,” 16 C.F.R. Part 260). The FTC will bring together a range of experts to discuss issues around deceptive environmental claims. Panelists will be announced closer to the date of the workshop, but specific areas of discussion will include:

  • The current state of recycling practices and recycling-related advertising in the U.S.;
  • Consumer perception of current and emerging recycling-related claims; and
  • The need for any updates or other changes to the Green Guides related to recycling claims.

The workshop is open to the public, and there is no fee to attend.  The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET at the Constitution Center (auditorium), 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20024, and webcast on the FTC’s website at FTC.gov. A link to the webcast, as well as the agenda and speaker information, will be posted in advance of the event.  Registration is not required.

In conjunction with this event, the FTC is seeking additional public comment. The public will have until June 13, 2023 to submit comments to accommodate those who wish to provide input on the topics discussed at the event. Information on how to submit comments can be found on Regulations.gov.

  • Agenda

    Tuesday, May 23

    7:45-8:30 am

    Registration

    Enter at 7th and D Streets, SW.  Proceed through airport-style security.
    8:30-8:50 am

    Opening Remarks and Welcome

    James Kohm, Associate Director, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC
    8:50-10:05 am

    Panel 1: Current State of Recycling Market and Claims

    Moderators:

    Julia Solomon Ensor and Hampton Newsome, Attorneys, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC

    Panelists:

    Kate Bailey, Chief Policy Officer, Association of Plastic Recyclers

    Anne Germain, Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, National Waste & Recycling Association

    Adam Riedel, Manager, Environmental Management Office, Arlington VA County Government

    Kaelah Smith, Assistant Attorney General, State of Connecticut

    Anthony Tusino, Senior Program Officer for Plastic Policy Advocacy, WWF

    Eric Unis, Senior Attorney, National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs
    10:05-10:15 am

    Break
    10:15-11:05 am

    Panel 2: Consumer Perception of Recycling Claims

    Moderators:

    Julia Solomon Ensor and Hampton Newsome, Attorneys, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC

    Panelists:

    Sarah Dearman, Chief Innovation Officer, The Recycling Partnership

    Karen Hagerman, Director, How2Recycle, GreenBlue

    Brian Hawkinson, Executive Director, Recovered Fiber, American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA)

    Kim Holmes, Owner and Principal Consultant, 4R Sustainability, and research consultant for the Recycled Material Standard

    Bonnie Patten, Executive Director, Truth in Advertising (TINA.org)
    11:05-11:15 am

    Break
    11:15 am- 12:30 pm

    Panel 3: Future of the Green Guides

    Moderators:

    Julia Solomon Ensor and Hampton Newsome, Attorneys, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC

    Panelists:

    Peter Blair, Policy Director, Just Zero

    Jeffrey A. Greenbaum, Managing Partner, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz

    Patrick Krieger, Vice President, Sustainability, Plastics Industry Association

    Raissa Lerner, Deputy Attorney General, State of California

    Peter DePasquale, Vice President of Government Affairs, Keurig Dr Pepper

    Quinta Warren, Associate Director of Sustainability Policy, Consumer Reports
    12:30-12:45 pm

    Closing Remarks and Invitation to Comment

    James Kohm, Associate Director, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC

FTC Privacy Policy

Under the Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) or other laws, we may be required to disclose to outside organizations the information you provide when you pre-register. The Commission will consider all timely and responsive public comments, whether filed in paper or electronic form, and as a matter of discretion, we make every effort to remove home contact information for individuals from the public comments before posting them on the FTC website.

The FTC Act and other laws we administer permit the collection of your pre-registration contact information and the comments you file to consider and use in this proceeding as appropriate.  Under the Freedom of Information Act or other laws, we may be required to disclose to outside organizations the information you provide when you pre-register.  For additional information, including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, see the Commission’s Privacy Act system for public records and comprehensive privacy policy.

This event will be open to the public and may be photographed, videotaped, webcast, or otherwise recorded.  By participating in this event, you are agreeing that your image — and anything you say or submit — may be posted indefinitely at ftc.gov or on one of the Commission's publicly available social media sites.

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